American media personality Oprah Winfrey has announced that the leadership academy for girls she established in South Africa will shut down after the 2027 academic year, ending nearly two decades of operation.

A statement from Winfrey said the boarding school near Johannesburg would be transferred to local education authorities at the end of the 2027 academic session in line with the original agreement reached when it was established.

The statement added that students who will still be enrolled at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) when it closes will receive full scholarships to complete their education at other schools.

The academy was founded to support academically gifted girls from disadvantaged backgrounds following Winfrey’s meeting with anti-apartheid leader and former South African President Nelson Mandela in 2002. Since then, more than 1,000 students have graduated from the institution.

The school, located in Henley-on-Klip south of Johannesburg, opened in 2007 after being built at a reported cost of $40 million (£20 million). Although it became known as one of the country’s most prestigious schools, it also faced controversy over the years, leading to speculation on social media about the reason for its planned closure.

A public relations consultant representing the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation dismissed claims that the decision was linked to mismanagement.

Instead of operating the academy, the foundation said Winfrey would continue supporting education by funding a scholarship programme for academically talented girls from communities across South Africa to attend leading schools.

“The dream was never simply to build a school,” Winfrey, 72, explained in a statement.

“It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women. That mission doesn’t end with one campus. It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education.

“I’m excited that this next chapter will allow us to reach even more young women across South Africa and continue the promise that began more than 20 years ago.”

Authorities have not announced how the academy’s campus will be used after it is handed over. However, Gauteng province’s education department said it intends to preserve the institution’s legacy.

“We will ensure that this exceptional institution continues to serve the people of Gauteng while honouring the vision upon which it was established,” it said.

When the academy opened in 2007, it attracted criticism from some observers who argued that its luxurious facilities, including two theatres, a yoga studio and a beauty salon, reflected excessive spending.

Some critics questioned whether the investment could have benefited a larger number of students if it had been directed towards education projects across the country.

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The school also came under scrutiny months after opening when some students accused a former staff member of abuse. She was later cleared of all charges.

The academy currently has 281 students.

According to Oprah Daily, many former students have gone on to build careers as doctors, lawyers, engineers, artists, executives and entrepreneurs.

The publication quoted 2012 graduate Andronica Klaas, now a senior engineering lead at Meta, as saying: “Every corner of the campus was filled with so much love and care and detail.

“OWLAG convinced me that preparation, character and purpose mattered more than where I came from.”

(BBC News)